Child Care for Every Community

Summary#

This bill would create a federal program to provide universal child care and early learning services for all children who are younger than the age of compulsory school attendance. The Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) would run the program through the Office of Child Care. The law would let States, localities, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and nonprofit or public agencies be designated as "prime sponsors" to plan and run community programs. Covered programs must meet national program standards to be issued by the Secretary, follow monitoring and corrective-action rules, and meet facility, staff training, and accreditation requirements. The bill establishes requirements for program plans, family outreach, health and nutrition services, support for children with disabilities and dual language learners, and coordination with K–12 schools. It also sets rules on fees (low-income families pay nothing) and requires prime sponsors to involve parents and community members through advisory councils. Many supports for workforce training, staff qualifications, and pay are included, and the Secretary would fund research, technical assistance, and special grants.

What it means for you#

  • Families: All children younger than the State's compulsory school age would be eligible for care regardless of family income, disability, citizenship, employment, or other circumstances. Low-income families would not be charged fees; other families would pay according to a federal sliding fee scale with caps tied to State median income and a family fee cap of 7 percent of income. Programs are intended to be full-working-day (at least 10 hours) and full calendar year where permitted.
  • Local providers and employers: Prime sponsors would fund and contract with delegate providers (centers, family child care homes, or other approved entities). Providers would have to meet national standards, facility codes, and accreditation timelines. Prime sponsors must support workforce training and may negotiate wages and working conditions.
  • Workforce: The bill requires staff training and sets a pay standard that aims to make compensation comparable to local school employees and not less than a living wage. It directs development of staff qualifications and a phased timeline to meet them.
  • Tribal communities: Grants on Tribal land are generally restricted to Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, with limited exceptions. The Secretary must consult with Tribal officials when programs serve significant numbers of Native children.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes "such sums as may be necessary" to carry out the main child care and early learning title; it does not provide a total cost estimate.
  • It specifically authorizes $500,000,000 per year for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2036 for listed administrative, technical assistance, training, research, and other enhancement activities under the statute.
  • The federal share of program costs is generally no less than 90 percent, with 100 percent federal funding for covered children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers and for covered children in Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian children as described in the bill. States and localities may not reduce their own child care spending because of these federal funds (maintenance-of-effort).
  • No comprehensive government cost estimate or budget score is provided in the bill text and metadata. No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

  • The bill text states purposes that proponents would emphasize: provide all young children a fair opportunity to reach their potential; make child care and early learning affordable and high quality for all families; promote school readiness by supporting cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development; build on Head Start and military child care experience; and give communities local decision-making over program design. The bill includes provisions to expand child care supply, support workforce training and compensation, and coordinate health, nutrition, and other services for families.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.